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This paper focuses on the relationship between "urbanization economies" and access to bank credit by assessing the role of product variety and economic complexity in affecting local credit market conditions. Using quarterly data on Italian provinces for 2008–2018 and adopting a dynamic (spatial) econometric approach, the work provides robust evidence highlighting how local economic complexity reduces the barriers to accessing local credit markets. With a greater "qualified" diversification (higher economic complexity), banks access successful projects with greater probability and are more willing to grant credit. The estimation results also reveal the existence of long‐run spatial spillover effects. The empirical findings advocate for a nuanced and context‐specific policy framework. By embracing place‐based and mission‐oriented policies encouraging diversification and knowledge diffusion, regions can enhance their economic resilience and provide tailored support to businesses, ensuring their stability and growth even in the face of challenging credit conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Currently, in Nigeria, there is a rising anxiety about food security, with particular focus on rice being a staple food. Farmers’ preferences are crucial in improving the development of rice varieties to increase rice production. Therefore, it is important to investigate farmers’ preference for the attributes of improved rice varieties and the factors underlying the preference. Objective. This study was conducted to determine the effect of access to credit and farmers’ organization on farmers’ preference for improved rice variety attributes in Ekiti State. Methodology. A multi stage sampling procedure was employed to select 150 rice farmers for the study. Data were analyzed using conjoint analysis and ordered probit regression model. Results. The results revealed that majority of the respondents were male (68%), married (96%), fell within the age range of 41 to 60 years (66%), belong to an organization (58%), have family size of 6 to 10 persons (76%), had formal education (92%) and access to credit (68%). The results further revealed that the improved rice variety attributes most preferred by rice farmers are yield (1.523) and grain size (0.745), followed by price (0.680). While, maturity has the least utility range (0.196). The findings also revealed that age of respondents, years of farming experience, membership of farmers’ organization and access to credit significantly influenced farmers’ preference for the attributes of improved rice varieties. Implications. The paper adds evidence for a better understanding of factors driving farmers’ preference for improved rice variety attributes. Conclusions. It was concluded that policy strategies aimed at improving farmers’ preference for the attributes of improved rice varieties must consider the farmers’ organization and access to credit.

This study investigated the determinants of access to credit among cocoa farmers in Osun state, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of cocoa farmers in the study area, examined the factors affecting access to credit by cocoa farmers in the study area; and identified the constraints faced by cocoa farmers in credit acquisition. The study was conducted in Osun state, south-western Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used for selecting respondents for this study. A total number of 180 farmers were selected for the study. Data were analyzed using Descriptive statistics and logit Regression. The results for the entire respondents showed average values of 46 years for age, 25 years for year of experience, 8 persons for household size, and about 88% of the respondents have formal education. Farm size (p

This paper provides novel evidence that increased student loan debts, caused by rising tuitions, increase borrowers' demand for additional consumer debt, while simultaneously restricting their ability to access it. The net effect of student loan debt on consumer borrowing varies by market, depending on whether the supply or demand channel dominates. In loosely underwritten credit markets, increased student loan debt causes borrowing to increase, while in tightly underwritten markets, increased student loan debt reduces credit use. These findings match predictions of a standard life cycle model of household consumption and borrowing, augmented by a realistic student loan repayment contract. (JEL G51, D15, I22, D14) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background Cocoa contributes immensely to Nigeria’s economy; it is about 40% of agricultural exports and it is the main source of livelihood for over 200,000 rural households. However, its productivity has remained low in recent years compared to other cocoa-producing countries such as Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. Low cocoa productivity is attributed to many factors, which include lack of access to credit and cooperative services. However, empirical information on the simultaneous impact of credit access and membership of cooperative society on cocoa productivity is still very scanty. This paper aims at evaluating the impacts of access to credit service, cooperative service, and simultaneous access to credit and cooperative services on cocoa productivity in South-western Nigeria. Method A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 300 cocoa farmers for the study. The endogenous switching regression (ESRM) and the inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) models were used to analyse the data. Results In terms of simultaneous access to credit and cooperative services, age, education, gender, and size of household significantly influence the probability of farmers having simultaneous access to credit and cooperative services. The results of the second stage of the ESRM showed that age, size of household, years of education, and years of experience significantly influence cocoa productivity among farmers who have access to credit and cooperative services. However, age, size of household, size of farm and asset significantly influence the productivity of farmers who do not have access to credit and cooperative services. Average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) revealed that farmers who simultaneously have access to credit and cooperative services achieve significantly higher productivity than farmers who have access to either credit or cooperative services and the set of farmers who do not have access to either credit or cooperative services. Conclusion The study concluded that simultaneous access to credit and cooperative services positively impacted cocoa productivity. Farmers who have simultaneous access to credit and cooperative services achieve significantly higher productivity than farmers who have access to either credit or cooperative services or those that do not have access to these services at all. The study recommends that any agricultural productivity-targeted programmes in Nigeria consider farmers’ simultaneous access to credit and cooperative services.